If you write, you are a writer.
I started my writing journey at age 12, unofficially. I even won a literary youth prize when I was 14. I excelled in writing. And by excel, I mean I really, really enjoyed it and got top grades. Back then, I devoured at least one book in French and one in English every week. I was the kid who couldn't put down her book at the dinner table and read under the covers with a flashlight until the wee hours of the night. Unfortunately, my passion for the literary arts was not encouraged as a serious career prospect. Instead, the fear of being unable to earn a living from writing took root. Roots so deep it wasn't until the summer of 2022 that I decided to take the plunge, some 40 years after writing my first kid story. What can I say, it took a lifetime of doubt and two long years of pandemic isolation to reset the clock, and finally emerge as a writer. Officially.
Don't get me wrong, I have written extensively throughout my career. I wrote country economic reports that were distributed to clients when I worked in banking. I wrote research reports and academic papers that were published, and many more that I kept for myself or only shared with my clients. I wrote articles on business and leadership topics that were published in business magazines. But somehow, I still didn't consider myself a writer. To me, writers were quasi-mythical creatures graced with the divine gift of storytelling. Well, I'm certainly not a mythical creature. Eventually, practice, patience, dedication, and feedback on my writing, busted the myth of divine intervention.
If I write, I am a writer. Repeat that. And write. Every writer charts their own course. My grandmother wrote bits and pieces of her life, on the back of cigarette cartons, on notepads, in her kids' exercise books, on napkins. My aunt found these random, disorganized notes after she had passed. She was a writer and a poet, although she might not have considered herself as such. My aunt painstakingly assembled every piece of my grandmother's writing, and created a booklet for our family. What a gift to have insight into my grandmother's life from Montreal to Espanola between the 1930s and 1970s.
Whether it's journal entries, short stories, blog entries, articles, poems, a memoir or a novel, someone will be thrilled you shared your thoughts and your talent. Just take a deep breath and take the plunge. You'll be happy you did.
What you need to be a writer
I'm tempted to say, nothing really. And that might work for some people like my grandmother, although she did have the kitchen table, scraps of paper and whatever pen was lying around. But most of all, she had a desire to write down her story.
A desire to write. If you're not self-motivated, writing will be very painful. Even when you are self-motivated, some days writing can be difficult. That's okay. Remind yourself of why you want to write.
Grit. My French high school teacher used to say that writing is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. Unless you're writing while running on a treadmill, or from a tropical paradise somewhere, I can assure you that there's not much literal perspiration going on. On the contrary, writers tend to forget they should move away from their computers or notebooks to stretch. Seriously, Dr. Angela Duckworth defines grit as persevering despite adversity to achieve long-term goals (Duckworth et al., 2007). I used to think my first draft was the final, publishable version of my work. Nope. Only a lot of writing, re-writing, deleting, re-organizing, thesaurus consulting, and editing will lead you to the finished product. Just keep your eyes on the prize, whatever you decide that prize should be.
A space to write. Anywhere you feel comfortable and inspired. Personally, I need peace and quiet, a good chair and desk, and my laptop. But I know many who write curled up in an armchair with a pen and notebook or sit in a busy coffee shop. Find what works best for you.
Tools. You wouldn't believe the discussions out there about pens and paper. I prefer writing with a fountain pen, but they can be messy. I recently got Moleskin notebooks that are thin and fit in any bag. I love the paper, very smooth, but most of the time when I'm working on my novel, I write on my laptop (and backup my work regularly, as in every two minutes!).
Goals. Letting your thoughts flow in your journal is an effective way to get your creative juices going. But without measurable goals, a writing project may never get done. Most writers set word count goals each day and week. Establish goals that are realistic and keep you motivated.
A community. Although not necessary, sharing your work in progress with a community of like-minded people is very helpful. They keep you accountable and provide valuable feedback. Find your peeps!
What about talent? Most dictionaries define talent as a natural ability or aptitude. Certainly, talent helps make the writer's journey less arduous? Maybe, I don't know. Without grit and goals, talent might be wasted.
Desire, grit and goals are my top three "essentials". The rest are mechanics. Writing can be a profession, a mindset, and a calling. It takes a lot to be a writer. At the same time, it takes very little.
References:
Duckworth, A. L., Peterson, C., Matthews, M. D., & Kelly, D. R. (2007). Grit: Perseverance and passion for long-term goals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 92(6), 1087-1101. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.92.6.1087.
Dr. Angela Duckworth's website: https://angeladuckworth.com
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